US4128827A - Travel alarm system - Google Patents

Travel alarm system Download PDF

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Publication number
US4128827A
US4128827A US05/785,797 US78579777A US4128827A US 4128827 A US4128827 A US 4128827A US 78579777 A US78579777 A US 78579777A US 4128827 A US4128827 A US 4128827A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
lead
switch
alarm
alarm system
terminal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US05/785,797
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English (en)
Inventor
Donald F. Coleman
Sammy J. Rhodes
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Caterpillar Inc
Original Assignee
Caterpillar Tractor Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Caterpillar Tractor Co filed Critical Caterpillar Tractor Co
Priority to US05/785,797 priority Critical patent/US4128827A/en
Priority to CA291,113A priority patent/CA1073079A/en
Priority to BE1008757A priority patent/BE864734A/xx
Priority to DE19782811843 priority patent/DE2811843A1/de
Priority to JP3820078A priority patent/JPS53126641A/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4128827A publication Critical patent/US4128827A/en
Assigned to CATERPILLAR INC., A CORP. OF DE. reassignment CATERPILLAR INC., A CORP. OF DE. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO., A CORP. OF CALIF.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q5/00—Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices

Definitions

  • audible back-up alarms are often provided to warn personnel in the area that the vehicle is moving backward.
  • some vehicles such as hydraulic excavators, have upper units which can be rotated 360° so that the position of the upper unit with respect to the lower unit may be in any orientation such that the operator's visibility toward the direction of machine motion may be limited or obscured.
  • the alarm controls should be constructed such that they will automatically restore to their ready condition so that the alarm will again be automatically activated without any attention from the operator when the vehicle is conditioned for travel.
  • the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
  • a travel alarm system for a vehicle includes an electrically energized alarm, an electrical power source, and switching means connected between said power source and said alarm, said switching means being rendered conductive in response to delivery of an electrical signal thereto and being rendered nonconductive in the absence of said electrical signal.
  • a switch is mounted on the vehicle and is connected to the power source, said switch being of a construction sufficient for being moved to a first position automatically in response to the vehicle being conditioned for travel and for being moved to a second postion in response to the vehicle being stopped.
  • a first means is connected to the switch and to the switching means for delivering a first electrical signal to the switching means at the first position of the switch.
  • a second means is connected to the switch and to the switching means for delivering a second electrical signal to the switching means at the first position of the switch.
  • a timer device is connected to the first means for stopping the delivery of the first signal to the switching means only after the first signal has been delivered to the switching means for a predetermined period of time.
  • An override means is connected to the second means for selectively stopping delivery of the second signal to the switching means.
  • the drawing is a schematic diagram of a travel alarm system of this invention.
  • a travel alarm system for a vehicle is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and includes an electrically energized alarm such as a horn 11, and an electrical power source such as a battery 12 having positive and negative terminals 13, 14.
  • a positive line 16 is connected to the positive terminal through a diode 17 which provides reverse polarity protection and a negative or ground line 18 is connected to the negative terminal.
  • a switching means 19 is provided for connecting the positive line 16 to the alarm 11 to energize or activate the alarm in response to receiving an electrical signal.
  • the alarm is disconnected from the positive line in the absence of the electrical signal.
  • the switching means may include a Darlington amplifier 21 having the collector-emitter circuit of an output transistor 22 connected in series in the positive line between the battery 12 and the alarm.
  • the Darlington amplifier is rendered conductive when the base of a control transistor 23 is grounded and is rendered nonconductive when a positive voltage is applied to the base.
  • a transistor 24 has a collector-emitter circuit connected in series between the base of the control transistor 23 and the ground line 18.
  • a pair of inverters 26 and 27 and a resistor 28 are connected in series between an output terminal 29 of an OR circuit 31 and the base of the transistor 24.
  • the OR circuit has first and second input terminals 32, 33 for receiving first and second electrical signals "A" and "B".
  • first and second electrical signals "A" and "B" are present at the respective input terminal 32, 33.
  • all three of the transistors 22, 23 and 24 are turned on so that the Darlington amplifier 21 is conductive.
  • the horn 11 is activated and emits an audible sound.
  • all three transistors are turned off and the Darlington amplifier is rendered nonconductive in the absence of both electrical signals "A" and "B".
  • a switch 36 is mounted on the vehicle and is connected to the negative line 18.
  • the switch is of a construction sufficient for being moved to a closed position automatically upon conditioning the vehicle for travel and for being moved to an open position when the vehicle is stopped.
  • Such a switch may be a pressure actuated switch connected to a source of fluid which is always pressurized before the vehicle can be moved and is always at substantially atmospheric pressure when the vehicle is stopped.
  • One such system is a spring applied fluid released brake typically provided on many hydraulic excavators.
  • the pressure switch is shown as being connected to a brake actuating conduit, partially shown at 37 of such a spring applied, fluid released brake.
  • a voltage regulator 38 is serially connected between the positive and negative lines 16 and 18 and includes a resistor 39 and a Zener diode 41 interconnected at a junction 42. The voltage regulator provides a reduced voltage at the junction.
  • a capacitor 43 is connected in parallel with the Zener diode and functions as a filter.
  • a first means 46 is provided for delivering the first signal "A" to the first input terminal 32 of the OR circuit 31 at the closed position of the switch 36.
  • the first means includes a first switching device such as a flip-flop 47 having data input, output, clocking and reset leads 48, 49, 50 and 51.
  • the data input lead is connected to the junction 42 of the voltage regulator 38.
  • the output lead is connected to the first input terminal 32 of the OR circuit 31.
  • the clocking lead is connected to an output terminal 52 of an "OR” circuit 53.
  • the reset lead is connected to the output terminal 54 of an "OR” circuit 56.
  • a conductor line 57, a resistor 58, another conductor line 59, an inverter 61 and another conductor line 62 are connected in series between the switch 36 and an input terminal 63 of the OR circuit 53.
  • An inverter 64 is connected in series between the conductor line 62 and an input terminal 66 of the OR circuit 56.
  • the conductor line 57 is connected to the junction 42 of the voltage regulator through a resistor 67.
  • a second means 68 is provided in substantially parallel relationship to the first means for delivering the second signal "B" to the second input terminal 33 of the OR circuit 31 at the closed position of the switch 36.
  • the second means includes a second switching device, such as a second flip-flop 69, having a data input lead 71 connected to the junction 42 of the voltage regulator, an output lead 72 connected to the second terminal 33 of the OR circuit 31, a clocking lead 73 connected to the conductor line 62 through a resistor 74 and a reset lead 76 connected to the output terminal 77 of an "OR" circuit 78.
  • An input terminal 79 of the OR circuit 78 is connected to the conductor line 65.
  • Each of the flip-flops 47, 69 is of the type in which the output lead takes on the state of the data input on the transistor of the clock signal from a low to a high potential and the output will go to a low potential in response to receiving a reset signal at the reset lead.
  • closing the switch 36 causes a signal to be transmitted to the clocking leads 50, 73, causing the output leads 49, 72 to take on the same state as the data input leads 48, 71.
  • This causes the first and second electrical signals "A" and "B" to be transmitted to the first and second terminals 32, 33 of the OR circuit 31.
  • a timer device 80 has a resistor 81, a conductor line 82 and a capacitor 83 connected in series between the output lead 49 of the flip-flop 47 and the negative line 18.
  • the conductor line 82 is connected to another input terminal 84 of the OR circuit 56.
  • the conductor line 82 is also connected to the conductor line 62 through diode 86.
  • An override means 87 is connected to the second means 68 for selectively stopping delivery of the second signal B to the switching means 19.
  • the override means includes a manual switch 88, a conductor line 89, a resistor 91, and an inverter 92 connected in series between the negative line 18 and another input terminal 93 of the OR circuit 78.
  • the conductor line 89 is connected to the junction 42 through a resistor 94.
  • An overload or short circuit protective device 100 is provided to render the Darlington amplifier 21 nonconductive if the horn goes bad.
  • the device includes an enabling circuit having the base of a transistor 101 connected to the conductor line 59 through a resistor 102 and an inverter 103 so that the transistor 101 is turned on when the switch 36 is closed. If the horn goes bad, excess current will flow through a pair of resistors 104 and 106 connected to the positive line 16 between the positive terminal 13 and the Darlington amplifier. This causes an increased voltage drop across the resistors and the anode of a diode 107 goes more negative with respect to the positive line to establish the bias at the base of a transistor 108 sufficiently lower than the emitter voltage of the transistor 108 thereby turning it on.
  • the transistor 108 When the transistor 108 is on, the base of another transistor 109 is connected to the positive line and the transistor 109 will turn off. This removes the positive clamp on the base of transistor 110 which is then grounded through the collector-emitter circuit of transistor 101.
  • the transistor 110 therefore turns on and positive voltage appears at the base of the control transistor 23 of the Darlington amplifier causing both transistors 22 and 23 to turn off de-energizing the horn.
  • the protective circuit thereby also protects the Darlington amplifier circuit from excessive current.
  • the transistor 101 will remain on to latch the transistor 110 on and the Darlington amplifier can not turn on to re-energize the horn. If the switch 36 is opened, the transistor 101 will turn off to remove the latch on the transistor 110 and the entire circuit restores to the original state. If the switch 36 is again closed with the horn shorted, the above sequence immediately repeats to remove power from the horn.
  • the act by the operator of conditioning the vehicle for travel i.e., releasing the brakes by directing pressurized fluid through the conduit 37, causes the switch 36 to be closed.
  • Closing switch 36 causes the electrical signals "A" and "B" to be delivered to the input terminals 32 and 33 of the OR circuit 31.
  • the Darlington amplifier 21 With a signal present at either of the input terminals of the OR circuit, the Darlington amplifier 21 is rendered conductive thereby energizing the horn 11.
  • the electrical signal "A" at the input terminal 32 also starts to charge the capacitor 83 of the timer device 80. After a predetermined period of time as determined by the RC network of the timer device, which in this case is approximately 15 seconds, the capacitor becomes charged sufficiently for the electrical signal to then pass through the input terminal 84 of the OR circuit 56 and to the reset lead 51 of the first flip-flop 47. As previously stated, the electrical potential at the output lead 49 goes low when a signal is directed to the reset lead. Thus, the electrical signal "A” is removed from the input terminal 32. However, the signal “B” is still present at the terminal 33 and thus the Darlington amplifier 21 remains conductive and the horn 11 energized.
  • the operator wishes to de-energize the horn 11 after it has been activated for the predetermined period of time of the timer device 80, he may selectively close the switch 88 causing a signal to be directed to the reset lead 76 of the second flip-flop 69, thereby causing the output lead 72 to go to a low electrical potential. This removes the electrical signal "B" from the input terminal 33 of the OR circuit 31. With neither signal "A” or "B” present at the terminals 32 or 33, the Darlington amplifier 21 is rendered nonconductive and the horn is de-energized.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
US05/785,797 1977-04-08 1977-04-08 Travel alarm system Expired - Lifetime US4128827A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/785,797 US4128827A (en) 1977-04-08 1977-04-08 Travel alarm system
CA291,113A CA1073079A (en) 1977-04-08 1977-11-17 Travel alarm system
BE1008757A BE864734A (nl) 1977-04-08 1978-03-10 Waarschuwingssysteem
DE19782811843 DE2811843A1 (de) 1977-04-08 1978-03-17 Fahralarmsystem
JP3820078A JPS53126641A (en) 1977-04-08 1978-04-03 Moving alarm system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/785,797 US4128827A (en) 1977-04-08 1977-04-08 Travel alarm system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4128827A true US4128827A (en) 1978-12-05

Family

ID=25136647

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05/785,797 Expired - Lifetime US4128827A (en) 1977-04-08 1977-04-08 Travel alarm system

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4128827A (de)
JP (1) JPS53126641A (de)
BE (1) BE864734A (de)
CA (1) CA1073079A (de)
DE (1) DE2811843A1 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4250486A (en) * 1979-03-19 1981-02-10 Deere & Company Vehicle motion alarm
DE4120596A1 (de) * 1990-06-21 1992-01-02 Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd Warnvorrichtung fuer eine baumaschine
US6305419B1 (en) 2000-07-14 2001-10-23 Clark Equipment Company Variable pilot pressure control for pilot valves
US6477914B1 (en) 2000-07-24 2002-11-12 Clark Equipment Company Motion alarm
EP2402214A1 (de) * 2010-07-02 2012-01-04 Hsi-Chi Lai Rückfahrwarneinrichtung für Fahrzeug

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3439324A (en) * 1965-09-13 1969-04-15 Nikko Electric Ind Co Ltd Backup warning device for a vehicle
US3569927A (en) * 1967-06-16 1971-03-09 Jay Milton Guyton Reverse operation warning signal system
US3728676A (en) * 1970-12-02 1973-04-17 Electro Dev Corp Reverse motion detector
US3739367A (en) * 1971-08-19 1973-06-12 Dickey John Corp Slow rotational speed alarm
US3827024A (en) * 1972-06-12 1974-07-30 Caterpillar Tractor Co Motion alarm for vehicles

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3818438A (en) * 1972-07-06 1974-06-18 Blount R Vehicle back-up warning system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3439324A (en) * 1965-09-13 1969-04-15 Nikko Electric Ind Co Ltd Backup warning device for a vehicle
US3569927A (en) * 1967-06-16 1971-03-09 Jay Milton Guyton Reverse operation warning signal system
US3728676A (en) * 1970-12-02 1973-04-17 Electro Dev Corp Reverse motion detector
US3739367A (en) * 1971-08-19 1973-06-12 Dickey John Corp Slow rotational speed alarm
US3827024A (en) * 1972-06-12 1974-07-30 Caterpillar Tractor Co Motion alarm for vehicles

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4250486A (en) * 1979-03-19 1981-02-10 Deere & Company Vehicle motion alarm
DE4120596A1 (de) * 1990-06-21 1992-01-02 Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd Warnvorrichtung fuer eine baumaschine
US5198800A (en) * 1990-06-21 1993-03-30 Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. Alarm system for constructional machine
US6305419B1 (en) 2000-07-14 2001-10-23 Clark Equipment Company Variable pilot pressure control for pilot valves
US6477914B1 (en) 2000-07-24 2002-11-12 Clark Equipment Company Motion alarm
EP2402214A1 (de) * 2010-07-02 2012-01-04 Hsi-Chi Lai Rückfahrwarneinrichtung für Fahrzeug

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0130657B2 (de) 1989-06-21
JPS53126641A (en) 1978-11-06
BE864734A (nl) 1978-09-11
CA1073079A (en) 1980-03-04
DE2811843C2 (de) 1987-05-27
DE2811843A1 (de) 1978-10-19

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CATERPILLAR INC., 100 N.E. ADAMS STREET, PEORIA, I

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO., A CORP. OF CALIF.;REEL/FRAME:004669/0905

Effective date: 19860515

Owner name: CATERPILLAR INC., A CORP. OF DE.,ILLINOIS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO., A CORP. OF CALIF.;REEL/FRAME:004669/0905

Effective date: 19860515